Father Rokosz’s New Year’s blessing

Charlie Rokosz.
Just the sound of his name brings a smile to the face of anyone who knew him.
He was Father Charles rokosz, Catholic priest.
When St. Joseph’s church in Duryea was closed for good a few years back, I joked with Father Rokosz, pastor of St. Joe’s and two other Duryea parishes at the time, that I was considering buying it and starting my own religion.
“Hold off on that idea,” he responded without hesitation. “When Sacred Heart closes we’ll be offering buy one, get one free.”
And when St. Mary’s church in Avoca was about to be merged with Saints Peter & Paul, Father Rokosz proposed a name for the new parish: Saints Peter, Paul and Mary.
My family particularly loved this adorable man because my mom served as his cook and housekeeper when he was pastor at Blessed Sacrament Church in Hughestown from 1984 to 1991. That love only grew when he delivered the homily at her funeral mass.
One Sunday morning during an oppressive summer heat wave, he stopped to chat with my Aunt Dorothy after mass at Blessed Sacrament and when she complained about the heat, he said, “You don’t have to tell me. I can’t wait to get out of these panty hose.”
That was Father Rokosz. He’d disarm you with his wit so he could win you with his faith.
He was a gentleman, a gentle man, and a most pious and beloved Catholic priest.
Father Rokosz died in July of 2012 leaving everyone in Duryea, where he served as pastor of Holy Rosary church, and Hughestown in tears.
More than five years later, I still think of him often. Especially at the start of each New Year.
Father Rokosz’s New Year’s Day blessing at mass in 1996 is about as perfect as I can imagine and I’ve mentioned it every year since.
“In the New Year,” he told the congregation at Blessed Sacrament, “may you be blessed with enough prosperity to remain humble.”
Imagine a nation where everyone enjoyed enough prosperity to remain humble.
Now that would make America great again.

Ed Ackerman

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About the Optimist

Ed Ackerman, a consulting editor and columnist for the Greater Pittston Progress, has served the people of Greater Pittston for 48 years, starting in the newspaper field at age 17. The Pittston resident will share his thoughts in this blog and in a weekly column published in the Progress. greaterpittstonprogress.com